Aims: This study was design to determine the level of heavy metal contamination of
ground water in Jimma town of Southwestern Ethiopia.
Methods: The sample had been collected from (6) different sites about (10) well and borehole
water. Samples were analyzed using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). Three
heavy metals had been studied were Copper, Zinc and Lead. Their concentration and
maximum contaminant levels (MCL) were compared with World Health Organization
(WHO) data. The maximum contaminant levels according to WHO, for Copper, Zinc and
Lead are 0.5, 3.0 and 0.01 mg/L respectively.
Conclusion: From the results obtained, none of the samples analyzed for Copper (0.025 mg/L)
and Zinc (0.15 mg/L) concentration was found above the MCL but for Lead (0.02202 mg/L)
concentration found above the MCL. However, the metals were present in 82.86% and
91.23% of the samples analyzed respectively. Almost 86.01% of the sample had detectable
level of Lead. All the Lead concentration was above the MCL. In general, 86.70% of all
samples analyzed contained one or more of three heavy metals. The results obtained from
this study suggest significant risk to this population given for toxicity of these metals, well
and borehole water are the only source of their water supply in this environment.